To think that not everyone is obsessed with making as much money as possible?

[MyShyShark]

It feels like a lot of people assume that financial success should be everyone’s top priority. But not everyone is constantly chasing a bigger salary, a promotion or investment opportunities. Some people genuinely prefer a simpler life, working just enough to be comfortable without the pressure to constantly “level up.”

Obviously, money is important for security and stability but isn’t there more to life than just filling your bank account? Or is that naive? AIBU?

It's never been my top priority, along with a big house, several fancy cars etc. It mystifies a lot of friends/family but I cba explain myself so I think they all think I am just a bit 'bohemian'

Some are, some aren't. Be happy with your own decisions, and try not to judge others!

I am one of these people. I don’t earn as much as I could but that’s because I prioritise actually being happy and having a good work/home life balance.

I couldn’t care less what car I drive and I don’t care for the finer things in life.

my family, friends, pets, nature etc are the things that bring me joy in life and make me feel rich.

YANBU. I’ve actively resisted promotion over the years because I was happy doing the job I do and had zero desire to manage other people. I went half time when dd started school and never went back to full time - I earned enough and work life balance was more important than more money.
DH was a lot happier when he downshifted too.

Where is the judgement in OP’s post?

That's fine, make your own choices and decisions but then don't moan when others have what you don't and don't vilify those who make different choices ie "tax the wealthy" etc.

Surely it's pretty obvious that not everyone is 'obsessed with making as much money as possible'.

If they were, there would be no teachers, no nurses, no academics, very few people who work in creative industries, nobody who retired early or reduced their hours etc. Frankly, there would be very people who had children.

In fact, I don't think I really know anyone personally who is primarily motivated by money. I know lots of people, including myself, who could be wealthier if they'd sacrificed other things like job satisfaction and leisure time. I have one friend who runs an SME business and although obviously the goal of the business is to make money for her and the other shareholders, even she doesn't put that ahead of everything else.

I don’t judge people either way they can decide what they want to do. But it doesn’t always have to be one of the other you can earn well, enjoy the finer things and be happy and not stressed. I would think it’s all dependent on the persons capacity for things.
Holding down a high-pressure job that runs well for some people might seem like the worst thing in the world and that might make them unhappy, but to others it’s not a big deal. I agree, money shouldn’t be the absolute number one priority. Being happy should be the absolute number one priority, but unfortunately that’s not always the way life let us live.

Posted twice.

It is clearly implied. "I am a lovely, humble person and like a simple life, not like one of those horrid people who chase material success. AIBU?"

Naive.
People aren’t chasing money to fill up a bank account. They are chasing money to put food on the table, petrol in their cars and a roof over their head.
Life is expensive.

I think some people might look at me and think I’m one of these people, but I’m not. I do live in a brand-new five bed house and we do have a brand new 2025 car. (And an older 10-year-old Car) but I don’t spend every waking moment in my life wanting the best things in life, and neither do I chase money. I earn 50k and my do earns ~70k. Neither of us are at the top of our career ladder, So we will go further, but that’s not for money, it’s because it’s our career and we enjoy it. The money has the bonus I suppose.

Naaah.

Beyond a certain salary, people can earn enough money for a house, a car and food.

Plenty of people don't stop there.

I am lucky enough to live a comfortable enough life, where I have the above, but I could have a bigger house, a better car and more fancy restaurants in my life if I had prioritised maximising my income.

Couldn’t agree more. I’m somewhere in the middle i have earnt well but not as much as I suppose I could have done. I don’t begrudge high earners who have put more effort into their career than me. I don’t want them to have to pay more tax because I’ve not made the same choices as them

You are naive if you believe high earners automatically become high earners because they put in more effort than low earners.

Aaand here we go again. Goady post with a goady title from a poster with the usual three-part name, who really needs to get a life.

Maybe go and chase a bigger salary, OP? It would help with the chronic boredom that makes you post the same guff on here over and over.

There is often a correlation between effort and reward. If I put in more effort i could have gone for promotions. It would have worked longer hours, more workload and managing people. It would have come with substantial pay increases but I knew I wouldn’t have been very good at it.

are you talking about wealth?- that is different

The high earners I know worked very hard to become qualified, then to rise up their careers.

@Swiftie1878
There’s a notable part of society who prefer more money to more time. This is after they have a baseline quality of life.
They would rather work more to afford a holiday or a new car than work less and not have the holiday or keep older car for example.

We should all try and respect that people enjoy living in different ways.
Occasionally people who prioritise certain aspects feel that others who choose differently are making “bad decisions” rather than simply different ones.

We're not really very materialistic and have little interest in buying expensive cars/clothes/luxury holidays. However, we do want to be able to help our kids with university fees, housing deposits and pensions and also not to need to worry about money in our old age.

So we have a high income and work towards maximising it because we want to be able to do these things.

This
People with money don’t seem happier, they have a whole different set of issues and seem unsatisfied. Also lots of stress and burn out. The happiest people I know have a positive attitude and like the simple things in life

I agree, but i also think that you need a lot of money for security and stability.

I dont have a big house, fancy cars or even go on holiday every year! But i seemed to find achieving this meant I had to work and chase some promotions.

I also think my time has value so if I have to work to cover the basics, I may as well earn more for my time if I can.

Taxing the wealthy isn't vilification.

That is your chosen implication and belief of tone, not what was stated.

No but calling for them to pay more whilst you have actively chosen not to improve your financial situation is batshit.